As Italy’s general election – which will take place on 24th and 25th February – approaches, the problem of media control and political power symbolised by Silvio Berlusconi is again in the news. The issue of media pluralism – not only for Italy, but also for the whole of Europe – has never been more pressing. This is also why the European Initiative on Media Pluralism asks the European Commission to take legislative action concerning concentration of (media) ownership, also guaranteeing the independence of media supervisory bodies from political power influence and agreeing on a definition of “conflict of interests” to avoid media moguls occupying high State positions.

Exactly in this early voting period for Italy only, we invite you all – as EU Citizens – to add your support to the very first European Citizens’ Initiative (which is not a petition) addressing the role of media by signing up online today and circulating its message as widely as possible.